Lex was startled when the architect of 'Robot Clark' turned on the light. Dr. Felix Hightower almost shuffled over to Lex. He looked nervous.
"Mr. Luthor, please! I've told you he is not perfected yet."
"He looks done to me." Lex noted, picking up the robot's hand. It felt kind of hard...kind of like when one touched the hand of someone lying dead in a coffin.
"Well he's not. The meteor rocks that he is made from makes up 90 of his body solution. But in the process is gives his skin a rather rock like feel..."
"So I noticed." Lex interrupted impatiently. "Look, just get that done...and the robot's dialogue and..."
"About that, Mr. Luthor. I REALLY need more time. He won't be able to fit into the situation you want him in if he can only say a few phrases."
Lex was about to go off, when he heard something in one of the outer rooms. Lex put a finger to his lips and hurried out of the lab. He moved down a few hallways until he was in one of the front rooms.
Clark? Clark was in front entrance hall. Where was the maid?
"Clark...where is my maid and what are you doing here?"
"I have no idea where your maid is, Lex...though if she had any sense I'm sure she's found another job by now."
"So you just walked right in? Using your meteor powers I'm sure. What are you doing here?"
Clark gave the room a cursory glance.
"Where is your wife?"
Lex raised a brow and grinned!
"Wow, good news travels fast!"
"Lexie is heartbroken. I don't care that you've married someone. I do care how it affects my children."
"MY children." Lex corrected. "And they always will be."
Clark closed the space between himself and Lex.
"Lexie is living with Lois and I now."
"Lexie hates your guts, Clark. So you can put aside these delusions of grandeur that you're going to corrupt my daughter, as you have Lucy."
Clark took a deep breath.
"No, Lex. I don't think you understand. I went to pick Lexie up myself. She packed her things and is now living with Lois and I. She won't be coming back. Lois and I are telling the girls tonight that I am their real father. I'm sorry if that hurts you..."
Lex turned away. Right! Clark was sorry if he was hurt! If Clark had ever been 'sorry' about anything in regards to their former friendship, then he wouldn't have driven Lana to her death! And he would not have stolen Lois from him. Lois and THEIR children!
Lex turned back to Clark, keeping his expression nonchalant.
"You're not sorry worth a damn, Clark. You haven't been sorry since you left all of the hard work to me and took off! Lucy and Lexie are who they are because of me!"
"You mean, 'despite you', don't you?" Clark said in a low voice. "We're the only two people that not only know what I did to get us to this point, but what you did in the other realities. Lois barely tolerates you now. I have NEVER told her that you murdered Lucy in another reality..."
"YOU SHUT UP!!!" Lex screamed, pointing at him. "THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT! SHE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO GET A LITTLE SICK..."
"Well she didn't, Lex, she died. And if I had let that stand you would be dead as well, you can bet on that! You don't love Lois. You want what I have. You always have, starting with Lana..."
"Don't you dare mention her name to me! Don't you dare! She couldn't live with your lies! To this day, I don't quite understand all that she meant in her suicide letter, but I know damned well that you do! And as per the norm, you're keeping that a secret. Lana didn't just kill herself over your meteor illness. There was something else, wasn't there?"
Clark just stared at Lex. It was bad enough the man knew that the girls and himself had abilities. And it was of the utmost importance that Lex always think that they could all do what they could do, because of the meteor rocks. Lex had already proven he could not be trusted to know the truth.
Clark ignored Lex's question.
"If you think for one minute, I am going to leave Lexie in your care after what you did to Lucy, then you are sadly mistaken and..."
Suddenly, Clark stopped talking and looked around. He then focused in on Lex.
"You know, I've been waylaid here. I came to meet your wife. Where is she?"
"Why? Now that you plan on destroying my relationship with Lexie and Lucy, you have no need to know anything about my life."
Clark looked around again. He then tilted his head.
"Do you HAVE a wife, Lex?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?"
"Chloe actually wants an interview with her. I'm beginning to think the real story is if anyone will ever see you with this 'wife'?"
"Oh...you'll meet her, Clark. When I decide to let you and not before." Lex hissed. Clark thought that was an odd thing to say. If the man was married, what was the big deal? And why was Lex even in his home now? Why wasn't he off on his honeymoon with this woman? Basically, he couldn't see why Lexie could not have continued to stay here with Lex, since he didn't appear to be doing anything.
Or was he?
"I think it's time for you to leave." Lex said coldly.
Clark nodded, but decided to do an extra scan of the first floor. Lex noticed that he seemed to be focusing intently on one wall in particular...
"Get out, Clark! Get out now!"
Clark could see two figures just behind a wall some distance beyond them both. There was one human skeleton form and another form lying on a table...only the second figure had what appeared to be machinery in him.
Clark looked away from the wall and looked at Lex.
"Tell me what's going on here!"
"I'm going to give you one last chance to leave without getting hurt. Go!" Lex snapped. Clark shook his head and headed towards the door that the wall belonged to. Lex wasn't married! And the reason he had lied to Lexie and everyone else, was because of what he was hiding behind that wall!
"Whatever you have going on back here, Lex, it's over as of now! What's behind the door?" Clark asked as his hand circled around the knob. Lex shrugged.
"Go on in and find out." he replied nonchalantly. Lex had planned on making the switch later, when the robot was perfected, but it looked as if no thanks to nosy Clark, they had run out of time.
Or at least Clark had.
As soon as Clark threw open the door, he felt the familiar symptom of overwhelming weakness. He stumbled and fell to the floor, as Lex closed the door behind them. Dr. Hightower was busy with 'Robot Clark' and looked up when he saw the scene before him.
"Mr. Luthor...what is HE doing here?"
"Lex..." Clark called out weakly.
Lex ignored Clark...sort of. Lex did kick the side of his head, before making a show of wiping his feet on the linoleum lab floor. Lex then approached the cyborg, making eye contact with Dr. Hightower.
"We have run out of time, Dr. Hightower. This robot needs to return in Clark's place today."
"What's wrong with 'Clark' down there?" Dr. Hightower asked nervously.
Lex grinned!
"You said yourself that the meteor rocks make up 90 of his body solution. Well...our friend on the floor over there has an aversion to those rocks."
Clark struggled to move. He could hear every word Lex and this doctor were saying. If that thing on the table was made from meteor rocks, then it was the reason he felt so drained. And that also meant that...
Lucy and Lexie would be affected the minute the robot came around them. Clark couldn't let that happen...
"Mr. Luthor...when his wife touches the robot she's going to know he's not human! I need more time to soften his skin! His vocabulary isn't perfected yet either!"
"Well what can he say?"
Dr. Hightower looked embarrassed. Lex tilted his head.
"Doctor...what can he say?" Lex repeated.
"Uh...I want your sex." Dr. Hightower whispered.
Lex almost gaped!
"Pardon me?"
"Well...I was testing the robot...you know, for language. Ahem...anyway, I taught it the words to my favorite George Michael song. Which is 'I Want Your Sex'. Are you familiar with it?"
"No, Dr. Hightower, I am not. Nor do I want to be. I would rather that robot not be able to utter another word, than run around Smallville chanting a song that sounds so ridiculous!"
"You're the one that let the prototype in here, Mr. Luthor!"
Lex looked back over at Clark, who was crawling around on the floor. He then looked back at Dr. Hightower and was about to say something, when a light ringing, interrupted him.
It was Clark's cellphone. Dr. Hightower watched as Lex walked over to Clark and bent down, searching his pockets until he found the phone. He then looked at the caller I.D.. Lois.
Lex answered the phone.
"Lois? Hi, how are you?"
On her end, Lois was not pleased.
"Why are YOU answering my husband's phone?"
"So, how are you Lois?"
"Why are you answering Clark's phone, Lex?"
"Before you freak out, Clark just left here and forgot his phone. I'll drop it by the farm when I get back to town."
"Or I could remind Clark that he left his phone and send him back for it."
"Yes...I suppose. So, how are the girls?"
"Like you care?"
"Lois, that's not fair or very friendly."
"Look, Lex. I don't hate you but I do know you. So let's cut the phony pleasantries, okay? Did you let Clark take a picture of yourself and your new wife?"
"Was he supposed to?"
Lois sighed!
"I'll tell Clark that he left his phone when I see him."
"So," Lex pressed on, "how are the girls?"
"You mean how is Lexie, don't you?"
"No...I mean how are the girls...plural."
"Lucy is getting over the fact that you've all but stopped communicating with her, since she chose to live with Clark and I. Lexie will adjust and Lance...you do remember him don't you? Your little brother? He's fine too."
"Sounds like a full...small, house."
"Goodbye, Lex. Oh and one last thing: thanks for the heads up on Lexie's new power!"
Lex chose not to acknowledge the last accusation.
"Lois, please! All will be forgiven if you just stop this foolishness. You're not cut out to be some farmer's wife! Chloe's paper will never make the money she wants...how do you plan to live? I mean Jonathan and Martha Kent struggled everyday of their lives!"
"Well...I do have LOTS of nice things that you gave me. I figure they will net a nice profit on some auction site. Actually...I'm already in contact with Sotheby's. We can probably fund the girls college education on that lovely coin collection you gave me..."
Lex smiled on his end.
"Clark is proud. He'd be very upset if money came from me in any form whatsoever."
Lois said nothing. Lex was right and worse yet, he knew, she knew, he was right!
"Gotta get going, Lex. I wish I could say it had been good talking to you, but I think we both know that would be a lie."
"Lois, wait!"
But Lois had hung up. Lex disconnected and stared down at the phone. He missed Lois, more than he would like to admit even to himself. They had come together out of need. He needed to get over Lana's death, Lois needed to get over Clark's departure and abandonment. Lois probably wouldn't admit it to this day, but life with him had not been THAT bad. And...he still believed that deep down, Lois had had feelings for him.
Just like Lana had. And the one person that had messed up his chances with both women, was lying on the floor sniveling like a BEYOTCH!
Lex kicked the side of Clark's head again, causing Dr. Hightower to flinch. Lex nodded.
"Don't worry about the robot's speech. Lois and the girls will just think Clark went crazy."
"You can't assume that, Mr. Luthor! Now I just took care of the robot's skin. It's as soft as a human's would be but still..."
Lex sighed with disgust, then looked over at a table adjacent to the robot's. He then looked back at Dr. Hightower.
"Give the robot my thoughts and feelings. You can do that, can't you?" Lex asked, suddenly excited by the prospect.
"Your thoughts and feelings?" Dr Hightower repeated with a stutter. God almighty, HOW had he gotten himself mixed up with Lex Luthor?
"Yes...we'll give the robot all of my knowledge...memories, etc.. Then it should be easy for me to get my family back."
"I don't mean to overstep, Mr. Luthor, but HOW? I mean your ex-wife..."
"Wife, Dr. Hightower. This...this...sham she has with HIM, is nothing compared to what Lois had with me. When Clark Kent slithered back into our lives, he just confused Lois, that's all. And our daughters, especially Alexandra, could never survive on the little Clark is able to provide." Lex almost sneered. He then stopped his diatribe and walked over to the table.
"Strap me in, Dr. Hightower." Lex ordered.
Meanwhile, the real Clark was able to painfully crawl from the room, inch by inch. The further away he got from that 'robot', the better he felt. Soon, he was out in the hallway. He jumped up and stood in the doorway.
The room was now dark except for a lot of flashing lights. He had been so into his own survival, that he had no idea what the hell Lex and this mad scientist were up to now!
There was a part of Clark that wanted to blast whatever was going on on that table! He thought about zapping those flashing lights with his heat vision. But since he did not know just 'what' exactly was going on, he decided not to, lest he kill Lex.
All he knew was that the robot looked like him. It was made from meteor rocks...which made him dangerous not only to himself...but to Lexie and Lucy as well. He had to get back home and figure out how he was going to protect his family.
Clark superspeeded out of the mansion.
SMALLVILLE-KENT FARM
Lance was stirring a pot of gravy, while Lois was once again arguing with Jimmy Olson.
"So you're telling me you didn't get any dog pictures?"
"A German Shepherd leaped on me! God, my camera is half broken...I need a new one." Jimmy whined.
"Take that up with Chloe. I doubt she'll spring for a new one though. I'm thinking maybe she should really spend her money on a new photojournalist."
"Man, that's cold, Lois."
"Hey, I call them like I see them! You didn't want to do this dog story, Jimmy. Now I'm sorry but I just can't forget that. And I'm not buying this German Shepherd crap either!"
"I'm sure Clark will believe me. Where is he?"
"Off covering a story. Kind of like what you were supposed to be doing."
Jimmy looked around, then set down his broken camera.
"Lois?"
"No, you can't stay for dinner."
"I wasn't going to ask! But I bet if I asked Clark he'd say yes."
"Meaning what?" Lois grinned. "That he's friendlier?"
"Something like that. Anyway, this is about Chloe."
"What about her?"
"I think she's seeing someone. And I think this someone lives in Neptune, California. Come on, Lois! I mean why would she want Clark or yourself, to fly to California for a picture of Lex Luthor and his new wife, when she could easily get it herself?"
"Is that what you're basing this on? Jimmy, Lex is not very friendly. Chloe would've just been wasting her time. Lex would not have given her a picture. Clark and I have a pseudo relationship with the man...and Chloe isn't seeing someone. She would have told me!"
"I say we investigate together." Jimmy suggested. Lois gave him a knowing look.
"For what? Jimmy, no offense, but you've been kind of tentative about even asking Chloe out! If she's in a relationship that makes her happy, what can you offer her?"
Before Jimmy could answer, the front door opened and Clark walked in carrying a grocery bag. Roses were sticking out. Lois, happy for some respite from her conversation with Jimmy, hurried over to him and hugged him hard.
Clark smiled, setting down the bag.
"That's a nice welcome."
"I'd give you an even nicer one but we have company. Did you get your phone back from Lex?"
Clark felt in his pockets! Damn!
"No...actually, we need to talk about Lex," Clark said, lowering his voice, "and what he's planning."
Lois said nothing. Her stomach did flip flops. Of course it was too much to think that Lex had gotten on with his life. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, not that she would have had to.
"Lex isn't married, is he?"
"No...unless you count a robot that looks exactly like me, and is made from meteor rocks, a bride. Jimmy is staring...tell me you didn't ask him to stay for dinner? Because we don't have much time."
Lois swallowed her fear and turned to face Jimmy.
"Uh...we'll talk later about that thing."
"Hey, Clark. Can I stay for dinner?"
Dinner was actually more lively than anyone had expected it to be. Clark had brought home a bouquet of roses, as a centerpiece for the table. He wanted Lexie's first dinner with the family to be special.
Clark had a feeling that Lexie was open to living with them, because Jimmy was their guest that night. She and Lucy talked to him while Lance had seconds and thirds of the meal that Clark suspected he made...since it tasted pretty good!
Clark and Lois excused themselves to talk on the porch. Jimmy was busy being the center of attention, which meant lying about exploits that never occurred, to the girls. Lois peeked in through the window, before facing her husband.
"Tell me about your look alike robot? Like when is he showing up here? Lex didn't make him because he needed a friend!"
Clark knew his wife well enough to know, that she immersed herself heavily in sarcasm when she was scared...also when she was not scared, but more so when she was. He reached out and touched her shoulders.
"I won't let this thing harm any of us."
"How are you going to stop it? It's made from meteor rocks! How did Lex get your phone? I want you to tell me the truth."
"Alright," Clark said, drawing out the word, "Lex tricked me into meeting the robot, so to speak. I was too weak to get away."
Lois turned away from him, for fear that he would see just how much this whole thing was upsetting her. But Clark reached out and turned her back to face him.
"I know you're scared."
"Clark...the girls have powers and they think that it's cute! They have never faced anything or anyone dangerous! They're not ready for this! And they won't even stand a fighting chance!"
"I want to send Jimmy out to the barn with Lance. Then I want to tell the girls the truth. Then I want to take the girls, and yourself, to the fortress."
Lois blinked. Clark meant the Fortress of Solitude. The ice house. She shook her head.
"Okay...and you do what?"
"I will force the doctor that made this robot to destroy it. It's just as simple as that. Honey, I will be careful, okay?"
Lois didn't like it. None of it. But before she could say anything, Clark brought up something else. And it was rather startling.
"By the way, when I was at the mansion earlier, my mother confided that someone sent Lionel a letter saying that your father was really Lance's father."
"What?! Who?"
"I don't know but Lionel believes it. That's the real reason Lance and Skippy are here. I need to get rid of this robot so I can concentrate on helping my mother."
Lois nodded.
"I'll call my father. Maybe he knows something."
"Yes, thank you. Mom says she hasn't been able to get ahold of him. Now...are you ready to do this thing?" he asked, putting his hands on either side of her face. Lois shook her head.
"No. But as usual, Lex has given us no choice, has he?" Lois replied, sighing.
Lance didn't quite understand why he had to show Jimmy a new horse. He suspected that Clark and Lois were finally going to tell Lucy and Lexie that Clark was their real father! He had heard his father talking about it with someone once. That and they kind of looked like him. More so than they did Lois.
Jimmy rubbed his arms. It was clear he could care less about a horse! He peered out of the barn window and looked towards the house.
"So, what do you think is going on in there, kid?"
Lance shrugged.
"I don't know. But I'm hungry."
Jimmy turned away from the window and stared at Lance Luthor. Yeah...he was kind of big for a kid his age.
"So tell me...why do you live here?"
Lance shrugged again.
"I don't know. I'm going to be going back home soon."
"So this is temporary?"
"Yes."
Jimmy nodded, not really believing it though. WHY would Lionel Luthor send his youngest son away to live on a farm? Mind you, Lionel was married to Clark's mother but it still seemed a bit shady.
Maybe he would have his story yet.
Lexie came down the stairs and sat down on the couch. Lucy followed. She was dragging a lot of stuff with her...
"Lucy? What is all of that?" Clark asked, still standing. Lois was sitting down in a chair. She was nervous. Nervous about Lexie's reaction to this news.
"Oh...I'm going to move into the barn, Clark." Lucy said quietly. She then set herself down and joined her twin on the couch. Lois frowned and looked up at Clark. Uh oh...
"Lucy, honey, you're not sleeping in the barn. Lexie and you have a nice room..."Clark began.
"I don't SHARE anything," Lexie interrupted snidely, "and Lucy knows that her stuff and my stuff don't gel."
Now Lois stood up.
"Your stuff and Lucy's stuff? All you brought was a suitcase and Skippy! What other stuff could be up there?"
Lexie looked away. Lucy looked guilty. Clark was now getting pretty good at reading the girls...especially when they were hiding something!
"What else is up in that bedroom, Lexie?" Clark asked. Lexie rolled her eyes and stood up.
"Mom, I don't have to take this, do I? I want to go home."
Lois ignored her and looked at Lucy.
"Lucy, tell me what's going on."
Lucy looked at her sister.
"Sorry, Lexie."
Lexie scowled as Lucy began to talk.
"Lexie has new furniture. I don't mind though. I can do on my schoolwork easier out in the barn."
"New furniture?!" Clark and Lois asked in in unison. Clark then gave Lexie a harsh look as he hurried towards the stairs. Lois followed after him. When Clark got to the girls room, he threw open the door...
There was a double bed in the room. A NEW double bed! There was also a new chaise. Both had store tags still on them. Lois put a hand over her mouth, then rushed after Clark as he turned and hurried back down the stairs! Both girls were standing now.
Clark stood before them.
"Lexie, you stole that furniture! You used your abilities to commit a crime!"
"Blah, blah, blah!" Lexie said in the most disrespectful manner imaginable. "So what if I did? If you think I'm going to stay on a farm without SOME good..."
"You'll take it back...no, I will take it back tonight!"
"Do it, then! I'll just run away!" Lexie yelled up at him.
Lucy hurried past Clark and Lois and up the stairs! A door was heard slamming. Lois took a deep breath.
"Clark, go and talk to Lucy, please. I'll talk to Lexie."
Clark gave his daughter a hard stare that was matched by her defiant one. He turned to move past Lois but she stopped him.
"Tell Lucy that you're her father. I'm going to tell Lexie." she whispered. Clark shook his head.
"No. I want to tell them together."
"I know that. And they are together...just not in the same room. Now go! Trust me on this."
Clark took a deep breath and nodded. He walked up the stairs to see to Lucy. Lois waited until she heard a door open and shut, before she faced Lexie. She walked up to her.
"Lexie, this situation isn't going to change. And I need for you to understand why it's not going to change. So please, sit down." Lois said indicating the couch. Lexie dropped onto it.
"I'll take the stuff back." Lexie said in a small voice.
"Thank you. But I need more from you than that. I need for you to know that there isn't any 'going back home'. This is your home."
"No it's not! Daddy is..."
Lois reached for her daughter's small hands and squeezed them.
"Honey, I've lied to you. To you and your sister. It's about your Daddy and Clark."
Lexie pulled her hands away and rolled her eyes!
"Please don't tell me that Clark is my real father! I know it's a lie."
Lois gaped!
"How did you..."
"The kids at school used to say stuff. I think Lucy kind of believes it but I don't."
Lois pursed her lips briefly before speaking again.
"And why don't you? You know, believe it?"
"I'm Alexandra Luthor, Mom. I mean...there is no way I could come from...from this! Lance is a Luthor too! There is no way he could stand living here forever! Grandfather Lionel will come for him too, I'm sure."
Lois reached for Lexie's hands.
"Baby, Clark has your same abilities. You have them because of him. Lex...the man that you think is your real father..."
"He IS my real father!" Lexie protested.
"Lexie, he's not. But he was there for me when Clark had to go away. I was pregnant with Lucy and you and I didn't know where he was. Lex married me so he could be your Daddy..."
Suddenly, Clark and Lucy came down the stairs hand in hand. Lucy was beaming! She looked at her sister, who slowly stood up from the couch. Lucy looked so...so...
Happy.
Lucy let go of Clark's hand and walked up to Lexie.
"Lexie...did Mom tell you? Clark is our real..."
Suddenly Lexie DID believe it! Lucy looked so sure and so happy! How could she be happy?
Lexie wanted her Daddy! She wanted Lex!
"No! My real father is Alexander Luthor and he's an IMPORTANT man! I won't stay here!"
Clark looked at Lois, then eased over to Lexie.
"Lexie, I know this is a shock. We should have been honest from..."
Suddenly, Lexie superspeeded out of the house! Clark chased right after her! Out in the barn, Jimmy so a blast of something whip across the Kent farm...no...two blasts of light! He ran out, with Lance on his heels!
"Oh God! Hey, kid, did you see that blast of light?! Of course you did! You'd have to be blind not to! Finally, something to write about!"
Now Lance was many things. Portly for his age and always hungry. But he was no fool. He knew more about what was going on within the walls of the Kent Farm than he ever let on. And even at his young age, Lance knew this his mother would not want an outsider learning family secrets.
"I didn't see anything. I'm going back in the house for a piece of cake."
Jimmy looked at the kid.
"What do you mean?! You didn't see that light whip across the fields there?!"
"I'm getting some cake." the child said firmly, walking out of the barn. He turned to look back at Jimmy.
"Close the barn door when you leave, okay?" Lance requested. Jimmy watched the boy walk back up to the house. He realized he had been dismissed by a kid!
Going back up to the house and asking Lois and Clark anything, would probably get him nowhere. But if he sat in his car and parked on the road or something, outside of the farm, maybe he could learn something. For Jimmy Olson had not forgotten about his original story. The strange occurrence that had caused all of Smallville to lose power, almost seven years ago.
Lance walked into the house and saw Lucy peeking out of a side window. Lois was on the phone. Lance shrugged and walked into the kitchen for more cake.
Meanwhile, Lois was on the phone with Martha.
"They're both here. Lexie is with me...but she doesn't want to talk to Clark and I have just told him that maybe she should spend the night here."
Lois set the phone down briefly and put her head in her hands. Lucy walked back over and picked up the phone.
"Grandma Martha?"
"Lucy? Honey, I miss you so much!"
"I miss you too. You're our REAL grandmother."
Martha began to tear up. She had her arm around Lexie, who's head was buried against her shoulder. Clark was pacing the room. He knew better than to get too close to his daughter at the moment...but what his mother had suggested would not do. Lexie had to begin to accept this situation now. Before Lex did them all more harm.
Martha spoke on the phone a few moments more, before hanging up. She looked at Clark.
"Lois got back on the phone. She wants Lexie to come back home. Clark...I just don't agree."
Lexie raised her head up. Her eyes were red. She glared at Clark, before looking up at Martha.
"I don't want to go back there. I want to stay here and wait for Daddy."
"Lexie!" Clark snapped uncharacteristically, "you have to listen to me! I need for you to stay at the farm with your mother and your sister because we're all in danger!"
Martha stood up and walked over to Clark. Lexie just stared at him.
"What's going on?"
"I visited Lex today in California, Mom. He's not married. He's built a robot out of meteor rocks that looks like me. When that thing comes here, Lexie, Lucy and I will be weakened by the affects. I need to take them all someplace safe. I don't have the time for this, Mom!"
Martha put a hand on his shoulder.
"Honey...many, many times you're not going to have the 'time' for tantrums and such. But this situation is what it is. You have to get Lexie to..."
"Mom, I don't have the time to sweet talk her now. And she is not staying here."
"Fine. I understand. I wonder what Lionel knows about this?"
Clark looked around.
"Where is he?"
"He left without saying a word to me. He got a phone call...maybe it has to do with Lex and this whole thing."
Clark hugged his mother. She had sounded so sad and dejected when she had said that. As if she had given up ever trying to make things right within her own family.
"We'll talk to General Lane, Mom." he whispered.
"Just take care of Lance." Martha whispered back. Martha then let go of Clark and walked over to Lexie.
"I'm going to leave you with your father. I want you to listen to him...for me, okay?"
Lexie nodded, then watched as her grandmother left the room. Lexie then slid off of the couch. Clark walked up to her.
"Lexie, I need for you to..."
"I'm leaving. I'm going to California to be with my REAL daddy."
Lexie turned to leave when Clark just grabbed her up into his arms and superspeeded out of the mansion with her!
LEX'S MANSION IN CALIFORNIA
Lionel Luthor ran a hand over his face, as he looked at Lex's form on the table. Dr. Hightower had told him on the phone just how everything had went wrong. How Lex was now in some kind of coma.
Just as Dr. Hightower was about to tell him something else, the man had screamed. Lionel had left the Smallville immediately only to find this: the doctor's body was on the floor...mangled.
The Clark Robot was gone.
NEPTUNE, CALIFORNIA
Chloe Sullivan lay in Logan Echolls arms on the beach. They had started a fire and the sun was down. Chloe raised up and looked down at Logan.
"What are we doing here, Logan? Really?"
Logan Echolls sat up as well and sighed.
"Chloe...I know what I'm doing. I've asked you to move here..."
"I can't leave Smallville."
"And I can't live in Hicksville. There is nothing for you there! I will help you start a newspaper here!"
"I can't leave."
"And we can't keep doing this long distance relationship thing. I've never been great at close ones, much less a long distance one. Come on, Chloe...move her and live with me... on a trial basis..."
Chloe was about to answer when she shivered. Logan put his arms around her and squeezed her hard.
"I would like to think that I'm the master at knowing how to keep a woman warm, but in this case, I'm getting you a blanket from the car." Logan said, kissing the side of Chloe's face. Chloe watched him walk off and tried not to feel so...so...guilty.
"Feeling guilty?"
Chloe looked around. A blonde girl, about her size walked up to the fire. Chloe stood up, wiping sand off of her shorts and legs. Veronica Mars.
"Veronica."
Veronica Mars raised a quizzical brow.
"Have we met?"
"Your picture is in Logan's wallet. I asked about you. He told me." Chloe said simply. "So...are you spying on Logan and I or what?"
"Actually...I needed to talk to Logan. But then I decided that the decent thing to do, would be to give you a chance to explain yourself to him."
"Explain myself?"
Veronica folded her arms.
"Logan and I will always be close. What you've pulled here..."
Chloe took offense to that!
"I haven't 'pulled' anything!"
"You met him by telling him that your mother and his mother were old friends! That's a lie! Your mother is in a mental institution!"
"And your mother is a drunk that ran off." Chloe replied coolly. Yes, she had done her own investigating. Veronica took a step back. Chloe spoke again.
"Look, Veronica...I don't think Logan's mother is dead. I've seen the footage of Lynn Echolls suicide but..."
"Oh my God! Chloe, if you care ANYTHING about Logan, you won't go there."
Logan reappeared with the blanket. He blinked when he saw Veronica.
"Veronica? What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, screams could be heard! Chloe, Logan and Veronica turned to see just what was going on.
Clark suddenly stood before them. He was on the other side of the fire.
"Can I help you?" Logan asked sarcastically. Veronica eased over by Logan. Ordinarily, she would have thought this guy was cute, but he gave off a strange vibe...
"Clark? What are you doing here?" Chloe asked, looking him up and down.
"You know this guy?" Logan asked. Veronica peered up the beach.
"I think this guy hurt someone up the beach there." Veronica noted. Chloe glared at her. THAT was ridiculous!
"Clark? How did you find me?"
"I want your sex!" Clark thundered.
Chloe, Logan and Veronica gaped! What the hell did he say????
Logan moved forward, around the fire.
"Look, pal, move along..."
Clark backhanded Logan! Poor Logan flew through the air and into the ocean! Veronica screamed and ran out after him! Chloe eased away from Clark. This was NOT Clark! Maybe he had been infected with one of the meteor rocks again!
Chloe spotted the champagne bottle that she and Logan had shared, and reached down to grab it. No, it would not stop Clark, but she had nothing else at her disposal. She turned back to Clark but he had moved around the fire separating them, grabbed her chin and held her up in the air! Chloe used all of her strength to bring the bottle down on Clark's head, knowing it would do no good.
But it did.
Chloe was released and dropped into the sand. She crawled back away in shock, as Clark began to...to...smoke!
"Clark!" Chloe screamed.
"I WANT YOUR SEX!!! I WANT YOUR SEX!!!!" the Clark Bot screamed, as a few wires popped out of his arms! Chloe continued to back away until finally, the electric storm stopped, and the Clark Bot fell into the sand, smothering the fire out.
Chloe blinked. WTF????
Lionel Luthor moved into her field of vision. He had four men with him. He motioned to them to get rid of the robot. They hurried over and pulled it out of the sand. People were watching as the men carried Clark Bot off and into a van. Lionel turned to Chloe.
"Ms. Sullivan. I'll let you get back to your outing."
"Uh, hold up! What was that?"
"A simple minded project of Lex's...ah...I see young Mr. Echolls being helped out of the water by a pretty blond girl. I feel for you, Ms. Sullivan. It hurts to be second best, doesn't it? Have a nice night." Lionel purred. He then walked off.
Chloe watched as Veronica and Logan collapsed onto the sand. First and foremost in her mind though, was how she was going to explain that robot! She would have to call Clark and Lois and find out what was going on.